Delve deeper into Napoleonic history here in our section on the history of the two empires. Alongside
a section for those just starting, there are many articles, images with commentary, close-ups and special dossiers for the
serious Napoleonic enthusiast.

Chaudet was commissioned to produce a statue of of "Napoleon the Legislator" which was intended for the Corps Législatif and inaugurated on 14 January 1805 (but carried off by the Prussians in 1815). Using this statue Chaudet made a bust of Napoleon as a herm in June-July of 1804. A plaster mould was sent to Carrara and starting in 1807 several marble busts were produced. This bust is undoubtedly the most common of the official effigies of the emperor.